Plural reaction chamber press for high pressures



Jan. 29, 1963 F. P. BUNDY 3, 7 ,245

PLURAL REACTTON CHAMBER PRESS FOR HIGH PRESSURES Filed May 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet -J.

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Jan. 29, 1963 F. P. BUNDY 3,075,245

PLURAL REACTION CHAMBER PRESS FOR HIGH PRESSURES Filed May 12, 1960 4 Shasta-Shoot 2 F/g.4. W H n a i l v I v I iii? 2 r g ZS I a S22 6'6? b- 1 s r A 2 Q w if. Z I I 7 y' I Q I I 1 Q f 2 fiw g i I2 Y AR I 5 Inventor.-

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21's A oije F. P. BUNDY Jan. 29, 1963 PLURAL REACTION CHAMBER PRESS FOR HIGH PRESSUREIS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1960 fr; verv to r:' Franc/s F? Bandy. by tor-nay.

W is A Jan. 29, 1963 BUNDY 3,075,245

PLURAL REACTION CHAMBER PRESS FOR HIGH PRESSURES Filed May 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In verwzf'or: Francis P. Bund oi-hey.

Snite tts This apparatus relates to multiple high pressure high temperature apparatuses, and more particularly to the stacking of a plurality of high pressure high temperature apparatuses in series combination.

High pressure high temperature apparatuses may range from a piston cylinder and belt-type to those apparatuses employing a plurality of punches to define a reaction volume. Relatively speaking, most high pressure high temperature apparatuses are limited to a small reaction volume, and in most instances, considerable eiiort has been expended towards increasing the physical size of the reaction volume. While it is obvious that these apparatuses may be, Within limits, scaled up in size, such a practice leads to very deterrent problems. One of these problems relates to the material Carboloy cemented tungsten carbide from which the major parts of the apparatus are usually manufactured. It becomes more and more difficult to manufacture large pieces of cemented tungsten carbide which are necessary for larger apparatuses, and beyond a given size, range or configuration, large pieces of cemented tungsten carbide are not available at the present time. Another problem relating to merely scaling up a given apparatus concerns the difliculty in obtaining uniform distribution of high pressure high temperature throughout a given chamber or volume. For example, the length to diameter ratio in a cylindrical reaction chamber may not be arbitrarily changed for a given material because the internal friction of the material may prevent portions thereof from being subjected to the required pressures. Accordingly, when maximum diameter is reached a maximum length is reached. Additional problems concern other high frictional forces which may be introduced, and the relatively low return on increased reaction volume obtainable relative to an overall increase in size. These problems are extremely important to the effective utilization of the apparatus because they are most limiting parameters in critical processes. On the other hand, once the maximum size is obtained, and a size increase is desired or necessary, then the only recourse has been to acquire an additional and complete apparatus including a press. However, in spite of size and other related restrictions and problems, an increase in reaction volume is most desirable because, in many processes such as, for example, a diamond growing process, an increase in reaction volume bears direct relationship to an increase in weight of diamond crystals. It is obvious that where a physical increase is obtained in one apparatus, it effectively eliminates an additional apparatus, so that initial expenditure of an additional press apparatus is eliminated, manpower reduced, time element reduced, and greater yield is obtained in each operation.

It has been discovered that high pressure high temperature apparatuses may be employed in plural and series form in one press so that one operation serves to compress a plurality of reaction volumes with no substantial increase of applied force necessary. For example, in a belt-type apparatus as disclosed in copending application Serial No. 488,050, Hall, now US. Patent 2,941,248 filed February 14, 1955, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, a series of stacked belts may be employed together with double acting punches therebetween to simultaneously compress all reaction chambers or volumes in one operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to increase 3fi752d5 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 the available physical reaction volume of a high pressure high temperature apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to utilize a plurality of high pressure devices in one press.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a plurality of series positioned belt apparatuses wherein all reaction volumes are compressed simultaneously.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize a plurality of belt-type apparatuses in one press.

Briefly described, this invention includes, in one form, positioning between the platens of a press a plurality of high pressure high temperature apparatuses, for example, belts, wherein a double acting punch provides compression of all reaction vessels or chambers in the series of belts.

This invention will be better understood when taken in connection with the following description and drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a belt-type apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the center portion of FIG. 1 illustrating a reaction vessel in position;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a modified punch;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional assembly view of a plurality of stacked belt apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a preferred form of belt stacking apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of another modified apparatus;

- FIG. 7 is a partial view of this invention as applied to a multiple punch apparatus generally; and

FIG. 8 is a partial view of this invention as applied to a tetrahedral apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated one preferred form of a high pressure high temperature apparatus, belt-type apparatus 10. Belt apparatus 10 includes a pair of punch assemblies 11 and ii together with a lateral pressure resisting assembly or belt member 12. Since the punch assemblies 11 and 11' are similar in nature a description of one sufiices for the other, parts 13', 14', 15' and 16' being counterparts for 13, 14, 15 and 16. Punch assembly 11 includes a central punch 13 of a hard material, such as tool steel, cemented tungsten carbide, etc., which is prestressed by being surrounded by a plurality of press or shrink fitted hard steel binding rings 14 and 15, and a soft steel guard ring 16. Obviously, the number, size, material and fit of the rings and punch may be varied considerably from the dimensions given, due consideration always being given to the forces and pressures to be withstood. Punch 13 has a generally narrowing tapered portion 17, the taper of which is a smooth diametrical increase from the pressure area or surface 18 axially along the length of the punch to a given larger area 19. Tapered portion 17 includes an end portion 20 of frustoconical configuration with, for example, an angle of about 30 to the vertical. The term punch is deemed generic to pressure resisting members, for example, anvils, dies, pistons, etc.

Punch assemblies 11 and 11' are employed in conjunction with a lateral pressure resisting member or die assembly 12, comprising a die 21 having a central opening or aperture 22 therein defined by a tapered or curved Wall surface 23. Wall surface 23 generally describes a narrowing tapered or convergent divergent chamber, or opening into which punches i3 and i3 may move or progress to compress a specimen or material, for example, a reaction vessel as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to minimize failures, die 21 is also made of a high strength material, such as Carboloy cemented tungsten carbide similar to that of punch 13. Prestressing of die 21 may be achieved in the same manner as prestressing of punch 13, and binding rings 24, 25 and 26 are employed for purposes similar to rings 14, 15 and 16 as described. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, tapered wall 23 includes a pair of frustoconical sections 27 and and 27' meeting at a horizontal center line of die 21 and having an angle at about 11 to the vertical. In order to provide motion or stroke for punches l3 and 13 to permit these punches or one of them to move into the chamber 22 to compress a reaction vessel or specimen therein, gasket assemblies 30 and 30 are employed between the opposed tapered surfaces of the die 23 and punch 13.

- FIG. 1 provides an exploded view of a sandwich type frustoconical gasket assembly 36 which surrounds tapered surface 17 of punch 13. Gasket assembly 30 includes a pair of thermally and electrically insulating pressure resistant frustoconical ceramic or stone material gaskets 31 and 32, and an intermediate metallic gasket 33. Only one gasket, for example, 31 may be employed. Although a specific configuration and composition of a gasket assembly 39 has been described, it is obvious that any suitable gasket meeting the requirements described may be employed. Agasket may be initially'placed between the punches and the die, or, alternatively may be provided by extrusion of the contents of the reaction chamber especially Where the contents include a sample holder of good gasket material which extrudes into position. Gasket assembly 3%? is illustrated in FIG. 2 as similar to assembly 36 of FIG. 1 withequivalent parts 31, 32' and 33'.

One form of reaction vessel 34 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG. 2, reaction vessel 34, approximately 0.350 inch in diameter and 0.450 inch in length is positioned in chamber 22 between punches 13 and 13. Vessel 34 includes a cylinder 35 of electrically insulating material such as pyrophyllite or catlinite, talc, etc., positioned between a pair of spaced electrically conductive disks 36 and 36". A washer assembly 37 is positioned between each punch 13 and 13' and its associated disk 36 and comprises a heat insulating core 38 with a surrounding outer electrical conductive ring 39 in contact with punches 13 and 13', to complete the reaction vessel.

'Rings 39 and 39' are preferably of a hard steel, and together with cores 38 and 38 provide a cap assembly for reaction vessel 34 which thermally insulates the centers of the punch faces and provides a current path to the material in reaction vessel 34. The punch and die assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2. is positioned between platens or pistons of any suitable press apparatus to provide motion of one or both punches.

Bach punch assembly is provided with an electrical connection (PEG. 1) in the form of an annular conducting ring 4t and 4t) with connectors 41 and 41' respectively, to supply electric current from a source of electrical power (not shown) through punch assemblies 11 and 11', to a high temperature high pressure reaction vessel 34. Pressure is applied to the vessel 34 by movement of one or both punches 13 and 13 towards each other in a press apparatus. At the same time, electric current is supplied from one electrical connector, such as upper connector 41 to upper conducting ring 40 to the punch assembly 11. Referring then to FIG. 2, current flows from punch 13 to ring 39 and disk 36. From this point, current either flows through a suitable heater pro-.

vided in the vessel or through the specimen itself. The current pathcontinues from lower disk 36, ring 33- to punch 13. Referring again to FIG. 1, the current path continues through punch assembly 11', conductor ring 40 and connector 41 to the electrical source (not shown).

Literally, tens of thousands of carats of diamonds have been produced by this apparatus and diamonds so produced are presently commercially available. 7

The physical as well as economical problems associated with increasing the amount of diamonds per operation have been previously described. It has been discovered, however, that several of the different apparatuses may be employed in a single press to provide in one operation an amount of diamonds many times that previously obtained in one operation with a requirement of but one press, no additional load, and no additional opertaing time, while effectively circumventing the apparatus limitations mentioned. The arrangement relates, in one form, to stacking of several belts in series and employing a modified or double ended punch therebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a modified form of punch assembly which is utilized in stacking of belt-type apparatus; Punch assembly 48 comprises, in one example, a pair of central punches 49 and 49' of cemented tungsten carbide, tool steel or other very hard material. A pair of punches are employed to facilitate replacement 'if breakage occurs and for economy. Each punch is provided with upper and lower, or oppositely directed punch surfaces 50 and 50'. Punch surfaces 50 and 50 in this embodiment are similar to punch surfaces 17' as indicated in the punch assemblies of FIG. 2. Punches 49 and 49' are surrounded by one or more binding rings 51 and 52 and a further soft steel safety ring 53 much in the same manner as indicated by those rings 14, 15 and 16 of punch assembly and belt of FIG. 1. This double acting punch 48 is then positioned between pairs of belt assemblies as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it may be seen that, for example, one such double acting punch assembly 48 is positioned between a plurality of belt assemblies 54 and 54' where the entire relationship is in series form and all punches and belts are in coaxial relationship. Belt assemblies 54 and 54 are similar to belt assembly 12 of FIG. 1 and, while two are illustrated, a greater number may be utilized with, of course, additional double acting punch assemblies 48. A pair of end punches 55 and 55 are employed to complete the stack. End punches 55 and 55 are similar in all respects to punch assemblies 11 and 11' of FIG. 1 with the exception of reduced binding ring size. Various apparatuses and/or methods are available to retain such a stacked assembly in its particular relationship for efiicient operation. In FIG. 4, one such stacking arrangement includes suitable support members 56 which may be the bed supports of well known press apparatus or additional members. It is, of course, understood that stacking may take place in the vertical, horizontal, or other and combined directions. In one preferred form of stacking, a double acting punch 48 is attached to a frame member 57 which in turn is aflixed to supports 56. Frame member 57 is aflixed to supports 56 by any well known sliding and/or locking device indicated broadly at 58. Where such an apparatus is placed between the platens of a press, either one or both of the end punches 55 and 55' may be moved to compress reaction vessels in belt assemblies 54 and 54'.

A scaled up and modified form of a working embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIG. 5, which is drawn to approximately scale, the stacked belt arrangement is positioned in a press apparatus comprising a pair of platens or beds 59 and 59' and two or more support guides 60 together with well known operating apparatus (not shown). One or both beds may be moved along guides 60. A stacked belt arrangement is positioned between beds 59 and 59'. The stacked belt arrangement includes a pair of major end punch assemblies 61 and 61, a pair of belt assemblies 62 and 62, and a double acting punch assembly 63. The belt assemblies 62 and 62' are scaled up and larger than those of FIGS. 1 and 4 and include additional binding rings.

Major end punch assemblies 61 and 61' are similar to each other in all respects and a description of one, 61, suflices for the other, 617, with all primed numbered parts in assembly 61' being similar to the co-nurnbered parts for 61. Upper end punch assembly 61 is electrically insulated from bed 59 by a layer of insulation 64. Adjacent insulation 64 is a steel pad or plate 65 which supports a block assembly 66. Block assembly 66 comprises a central Carboloy block 67 and a pair of binding rings 68 and 69. Outer ring 69 also includes a groove 76 in which coolant tubes may be positioned for cooling purposes. Block assembly 66, in turn, supports an end punch assembly 70 which comprises a central Carboloy punch 71 and a pair of binding rings 72 and 73. As noted in upper block assembly 66, outer binding ring 69 includes a shoulder 74 which interfits with a support ring 75 to suitably attach the assembly to pad 65. Punch 71 is similar in design to punch 13 of FIG. 1. In fact, all punches are similar in this respect.

Each belt assembly 62 and 62 is similar to each other in all respects and also similar to belt assembly 55 of FIG. 4 with the exception of including more binding rings. Belt assemblies 62 and 62' are much larger than those belts 12 and 55 of FIGS. 1 modified rings 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83 are employed. Ring material and assembly have been previously described relative to belt 12 of FIG. 1. Outer rings 83 and 83' also include grooves 84 and 84' for.

coolant .tube purposes and a shoulder port purposes.

One form of support means forthis arrangement includes shafts 36, in one example, 4, with two not shown. A bushing 87 is positioned on each shaft 86 together with a lock collar 88 for vertical adjustment. Between a bushing 87 on one shaft, as illustrated, and a bushing 87 on a rear shaft behind those as illustrated, there is suit ably attached a track or guideway 90. On each shoulder 85 and 85' of belts 62 and 62' there is attached a roller assembly 91 to roll in guideways 90. It can thus be understood from FIG. 5, that belt assemblies 62 and 62 may be rolled into and out of position in much the same manner as a pull drawer, or may be rolled from one side' of the press to another.

85 .for belt sup-.

Double acting punch assembly 63 includes a pair of oppositely directed punches 92 and 92 with a Carboloy insert 93 therebetween. Binding rings 94 and 95 surround punches 92 and 92' and insert 93. Outer ring 95 includes a shoulder 96 for support purposes. One form of support means includes sprocket arm 97 extending radially to each of 4 supports 60 and slidably attached thereto by means of a cap 98 and bearing 99.

Because of the taper of punches and die openings the arrangement is generally self-aligning but experience in-- dicates better practice is to use sprocket arms 97 of good strength and bend resistance characteristics. In this manner, the arrangement is better able to resist sudden changes caused by gasket, punch, die and other failures tending to throw the apparatus out of alignment.

With the gaskets and reaction vessels (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) positioned in the arrangement of FIG. 5, one method of operation is as follows. Lower bed 59 is caused to move upwardly so that major end punch assembly 61' engages belt assembly 62. This action raises lower belt assembly 62' oil track 90 to engage punch assembly 63. Punch assembly 63 moves upwardly by means of bearing 99 to engage upper belt assembly 62. Lower bed 59', lower end punch assembly 61, lower belt 62', and punch assembly 63 move upwardly so that upper belt 62 engages upper end punch assembly 61.

It is obvious from a simple problem in basic mechanics that pressures in the range of, for example, 50,000- 100,000 atmospheres may be generated in each of the reaction chamber or volume with no increase in force necessary over that amount of force which would generate 50,000l00,000 atmospheres in a single belt apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1. There is, of course, some friction-a1 loss in the force necessary to overcome added internal friction and friction between support member 57 and guide rod 58 of FIG. 4.

and 4 and somewhat When electrical resistance is employed to heat the specimen as described for FIG. 1, power is supplied from a source of power, not shown, by means of conductor 100 and connector 101 to pa d 65. Current flow is then from upper punch assembly 6-1 to a reaction vessel in elt assembly 62 to double acting punch assembly 63, and in a similar manner from punch assembly 63 to belt assembly 62', to lower punch assembly 61' to connector 101' and conductor 100. Double acting punch assembly 63 may be connected to ground. In this manner series heating of reaction vessels in belt assemblies 62 and 62 is obtained. As one example of resistance heating, the apparatus as illustrated has been operated with a voltage of 6 volts and current in a range between about 4004200 amperes between conductors 100 and 101. This has provided voltage drops of about 3 volts for each reaction cell with the central punch at ground potential. It is obvious that other electrical circuits may be employed for either series or parallel heating. The apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5 has been operated successfully for diamond production with temperatures in excess of 1500 C. and pressures in excess of 90,000 atmospheres. Over 100 operations have been performed with this apparatus with no failure in evidence.

The following tables of diamond process operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 are employed to illustrate successive operations without failure, diamond growth in two reaction vessels heated in series, and uniform yield between top and bottom vessels. Yield itself is of no importance. In each operation of a reaction vessel similar to that of FIG. 2, about /2 by 1 inch was employed. The vessel was filled, in alternate stacked relationship, with nickel disks of .020 inch thickness and spectroscopic purity graphite of .050 inch thickness. End disks 36 were Nichrome. Applied force on the punches was about 600 tons and a maximum of 3200 watt input was used.

Table I Sample N 0. Runs Yield top, Yield botg. tom, g,

40 run average 1. 39 1. 40

Table [1 [Similar arrangement as for Table I, except that Chromel was used as a catalyst] Sample Runs Yield top, Yield botg. tom, g.

Average of 35 runs 68 63 Indirectly heated reaction vessels were also employed and uniformity of yield indicated as would be expected.

An additional modification of a stacking arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, the belt and punch assemblies are stacked in a tubular or cylindrical structure 102. Structure 102 may have suitable cutouts or be in the form of a cage-like structure to facilitate loading and unloading of reaction vessels. In this instance, structure 102 supports belt assemblies 54 and 54 although punch assemblies 55 and 55 may also be supported. Additional support and electrical insulation are provided by means of a ring 103 of plastic rubber, etc.

The stacking feature is, of course, applicable to numerous types of high pressure apparatus, including the straight piston-cylinder combinations, or various modifications thereof, such as for example, as described and claimed in copending' application Serial No. 488,027, Strong, now U.S. Patent 2,941,241, and copending applications Serial Nos. 647,426, now U.S. Patent 2,941,246,

apparatus 110, multi-planar in this example because the punches move in two planes, comprises in one example a horizontal punch assembly 111 which includes four equally circumferentially spaced punches 112, 113, and 114 and 115 (not shown). These punches may be suitably contained in any assembly, such as a ring assembly 116 with hydraulic actuatingmeans which will provide movement of one or more of these punches towards each other. A pair of vertical punches 117 and 118 cooperate with the horizontal punches so that when the punches are moved along their respective longitudinal axes, a reaction chamber is defined. It is obvious that the defined reaction chamber may take various configurations depending upon the configuration of the punch faces, and that less than all punches may need to move. Double acting of thisv apparatus includes, in a simple form, the placing of another apparatus 119 in series relationship with apparatus 110. Apparatus 119 also includes a horizontal punch assembly 120 similar to horizontal punch assembly 111, together with punches 121, 122, and 123 and 124 (not shown) and vertical punches 125 and 126. It is noted that punches 118 and 125 are oppositely directed or in back to back relationship. Accordingly, the pushing or moving means for punches 118 and 125 are or may be eliminated and the pair of punches may be an integral or single punch 127. Each assembly 110 and 119 is positioned in a single press between platens or beds 128 and 129. Double acting punch 127 is positioned between horizontal punch assemblies 111 and 120. It can thus be understood that rela-' tive movement of the platens 128 and 129 towards each other will serve to compress a reaction vessel positioned between punches of each horizontal punch assembly. One or more of the horizontal punches in each assembly move towards each other and gaskets between all punches may be initially placed or caused to extrude from the vessel, sample material, etc.

A tetrahedral apparatus is one having a tetrahedral reaction chamber defined by fourpunches with triangular faces, which when moved towards each other, define a tetrahedron. An example of such a tetrahedral apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,918,699. In FIG. 8, double acting is applied to such a tetrahedral apparatus 130. Apparatus 130 includes four punches 131, 132, 133 and 134, each having triangular faces and suitably positioned and aligned so that motion of one or more punches towards each other defines a tetrahedral reaction volume to compress a sample therein. Double acting is provided by placing another such apparatus 135 in stacked relationship or in series with apparatus 130. Additional apparatus 135 includes four punches 136, 137, 138 and 139 to define a tetrahedral reaction volume. As illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 2,918,699, each punch of each apparatus includes it own hydraulic cylinder so that all punches may move towards each other to compress a specimen. In the stacking arrangement of FIG. 7, punches 134 and 13-9 may be operated by the same hydraulic means to be double acting. However, a simplified arrangement includes a tapered belt 140 and 14-1 for each of the apparatuses 130 and 135 and a single combined punch (134, 139) 142. except punch 142 conform to and are tapered similarly to the taper of rings 140 and 141 so that each punch may slide along the predetermined taper. The stacked The bases 143 of all punches arrangement is placed between the platens of a press so that relative motion of one apparatus towards the other will cause simultaneous compression of a specimen in each apparatus since each punch will be caused to move toward each other by the tapers involved, and since each apparatus is caused to move relatively, punch 142 also moves relatively for compression of each specimen. As in other apparatuses, suitable gaske-ting may *be employed between punches either by initially placing a gasket therebetween or by causing extrusion of the vessel, sample material, etc., in the tetrahedral volume.

It is thus understood that the objects of this invention are achieved through stacking of high pressure high temperature apparatuses in a single press where a double acting punch is positioned between pairs of apparatus.

While the stacking or plural arrangement has been. illustrated as including a pair ofassemblies, it is obvious that more may be employed if desirable. The arrangement is generally described as a first and second assembly of pressure resisting members where each assembly includes at least apair of pressure resisting members, said pair defining an open reaction volume and a double acting punch between assemblies or pairs to close each volume. .However, .one salient feature is the double acting punch which closes and compresses a pair of re-' action chambers or volumes simultaneously. It is of no great import what type of or how many pressure resisting members define the individual reaction chambers.

While specific methods and apparatuses in accordance with this invention have been shown and described, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the particular description nor to the particular configurations illustrated, and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a high pressure apparatus which includes a moving punch which progresses into a chamber to compress a specimen material in .said chamber, and where sealing means are provided between the punch and the chamber wall, the combination comprising a double acting punch member to compress a specimen within an opposed pair of said chambers, said double acting punch member cornprising a pair of punches, said punches being oppositely directed, each of said punch surface tapering towards one end to compress a specimen at said end.

2. In a high pressure high temperature apparatus which includes a moving punch progressing into a chamber to compress a specimen material in said chamber, and where a gasket is provided between the punch and the chamber wall, the combination comprising a double acting punch member to compress a specimen within an opposed pair of said chambers, said double acting punch member comprising a pair of punches, said punches being oppositely directed, each said punch surface tapering to provide a frustoconical end section to compress a specimen at said end and a binding ring around said double acting punch intermediate said oppositely directed punch surfaces.

3. A stacked assembly of double acting high pressure high temperature apparatuses comprising in combination, a first assembly including at least a pair of pressure resisting members positioned to define upon motion towards each other an open reaction chamber, a second assembly including at least a pair of pressure resisting members positioned to define upon motion toward each other an open reaction chamber, said first assembly being spaced from said second assembly to define opposed reaction chambers, and a double acting punch positioned between said first and said second assembly to close said opposed reaction chambers, means to provide relative motion be tween said double acting pressure resisting member and said assemblies to compress a material in said reaction chambers, and a gasket between and engaging said pressure resisting members during operation thereof.

4. A stacked double acting high pressure high temperature apparatus comprising in combination, a first multiplanar assembly of pressure resisting members moving in difierent planes and defining an open reaction chamber, a second assembly of multi-planar pressure resisting members moving in diflferent planes and defining a second open reaction chamber, said first and second assemblies defining opposed open reaction chambers in spaced apart relationship, and a double acting pressure resisting member positioned between said assemblies to close each reaction chamber, means to provide relative motion between said double acting pressure resisting member and said assemblies to compress a material in said each reaction chamber, and sealing means between said pressure resisting members during operation of said apparatus.

5. A stacked double acting high pressure high temperature apparatus comprising in combination, a plurality of annular die members having a tapered opening therethrough to receive an object to be subjected to high pressure and high temperature, a punch member on each end of said stack of die members in said openings, a double acting punch member positioned coaxially between said die members, said double acting punch having a pair of oppositely directed tapered punch surfaces, each of said punch surfaces positioned coaxially with a respective tapered die opening, a sealing gasket between and engaging the tapered surface of each punch and its respective die opening, and means to provide relative motion between said punch member and dies to compress said objects.

6. A stacked high pressure high temperature apparatus comprising in combination, a pair of opposed punches, each of said punches tapering towards one end, a pair only of annular die members having a tapered opening therethrough, said tapered openings being adapted to receive an object to be subjected to high pressures and high temperatures, said dies being coaxially positioned between said pair of opposed punches, a sealing gasket between the tapered surface of each of said punches and the tapered surface of each of said die openings, and a double acting punch having a pair of oppositely directed tapered punch surfaces positioned between said die members and coaxially therewith, and a sealing gasket between and engaging the tapered surfaces of said punches and the tapered surface of the respective die opening, means to provide relative motion between said first pair of punches to compress said objects, and means to transversely withdraw one of said annular die members from said stacked apparatus for loading and unloading thereof.

7. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said first assembly and said second assembly each includes at least three pressure resisting members positioned to define upon motion of each other an open reaction chamber.

8. The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said first assembly and said second assembly each includes at least four pressure resisting members positioned to define upon motion towards each other an open reaction chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,850 Ernst Aug. 28, 1934 2,000,430 Willshaw et a1 May 7, 1935 2,169,281 Pfanstiehl Aug. 15, 1939 2,297,741 Bruner Oct. 6, 1942 2,349,805 Tapper May 30, 1944 2,941,241 Strong June 21, 1960 2,941,246 Bundy June 21, 1960 2,941,248 Hall June 21, 1960 

1. IN A HIGH PRESSURE APPARATUS WHICH INCLUDES A MOVING PUNCH WHICH PROGRESSES INTO A CHAMBER TO COMPRESS A SPECIMEN MATERIAL IN SAID CHAMBER, AND WHERE SEALING MEANS ARE PROVIDED BETWEEN THE PUNCH AND THE CHAMBER WALL, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A DOUBLE ACTING PUNCH MEMBER TO COMPRESS A SPECIMEN WITHIN AN OPPOSED PAIR 